Safety-step for ladders



Jan. 12, 1937. J. T. HENNESSY 2,057,188

SAFETY STEP FOR LADDERS Filed June 50, 1934 n. d zTi/vwfllliligiill0R,

ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 12, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SAFETY-STEP FOR LADDERS John T. Hennessy, New Britain, Conn.

Application June 30, 1934, Serial No. 733,228

2 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in safety-steps for ladders of the form that is provided with means for cooperating with the rungs of a ladder for support and when in position is adapted to serve generally after the manner of an ordinary step for supporting a workman or fireman, as the case may be, and the object of my improvement is to produce a safety-step for ladders that is easily applied to a ladder, that is relatively light as to weight, that is relatively safe under conditions of use, that is hingedly supported so as to permit of swinging out of the way and thus permit of free travel along the ladder, and that has openings when so swung out of the way to permit of access of the feet to the adjacent rung, and that, furthermore, by the use of extensions is adapted for use as a pendant platform on the underside of the ladder and in which last named use it may be used in cooperation with a mating structure of similar form.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved safetystep for ladders in position for use as a step as applied to a ladder.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the same.

Fig. 4 is a front elevation with the step in upward tilted position.

I Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the same, in part broken away and with a foot shown diagrammatically through one of the openings.

Fig. 6 shows the hook member.

Fig. 7 shows an extension, with associated parts in broken lines.

My improved safety-step for ladders comprises a step proper II] that, as shown, is in the form of a grid-like diminutive platform that is of ample proportions for the accommodation of the feet of the operator, a carpenter or painter or other workman or a fireman.

Means for support are provided that are adapted to cooperate with the rungs ll of the ladder l2 so that the step 10 may be operatively supported in a substantially horizontal position for conditions of use and that, furthermore, permit of swinging the stepupwardly out of the way and rest against the adjacent ladder structure. Said means for support are in the form of a hook structure l3 that is connected by one end to the step It) and that is adapted by its upper end to hook upon one of the rungs I I above the step.

Openings l4 in the step permit of access of the feet to the adjacent rung when the step is in the tilted position.

The step It in the preferred form is made of cast aluminum and thus the grid-like form or grating form of structure is provided in the form of any desired arrangement of openings l5 bordered by bar-like members N5 of sufiicient size and distribution to provide the needed strength. The openings I5 are virtually lightening openings and these are smaller than the foot-openings Hi.

The foot-openings M are located adjacent to the rear edge ll of the step ill with the latter in horizontal position though actually in slightly forward spaced relation to said edge ll, this because the step I0 is extended slightly rearward of the adjacent supporting rung IL' The rear end portion l8 of the step I 0 rests upon the particular rung II that serves as the supporting rung, overhanging the same as mentioned and projects forwardly, the front end portion 19 thereof being supported by being hung from the lower end portion 20 of the supporting hook l3.

The means for removably hingedly connecting the step with the rung and also the means for preventing the step from slipping forwardly off from the rung are provided on the bottom side of the rear end portion l8. Separate parts may be applied to the step structure to obtain the results mentioned or in a cast structure they may be formed integrally.

The hinge structure, arranged one on each side, is in the form of a hook-like or U-shaped hinge member 2| that has the mouth or opening 22 to admit the rung II at the rear.

Spaced rearward from the hinge member 2| is a dependent lug or projection 23 that serves to limit the forward sliding movement of the step along the rung.

Hinge members of a different form are provided on the under side of the front end portion I9 of the step l0, being in the form of transversely directed sleeves 24, one on each side, the openings in which receive the lower end portion 20 of the hook l3.

Said hook i3 is made of relatively heavy rod material and the said lower end portion 20 is com posed of the two ends thereof, bent at rightangles inwardly, with the said two ends 25 individually slipped through the openings in the hinge sleeves 24.

Above the hinge ends 25 the hook l3 comprises a pair of upwardly directed side bars 26 of suflicient length to provide the reach desired and the upper ends thereof are cross-connected by means of a cross-bar 21 so as to provide a U-shape for the structure of the hook. Said cross-bar 2'! is spacedbelow the actual upper end of the structure of the hook by reason of return bend portions or hooks proper that constitute the upper end portion, Said return bends or hooks 28 are adapted to hook upon the particular rung ll selected for support and individually serve as the connecting means intermediate the side bars proper 26 and the cross-bar 21.

Thus in applying the structure to a ladder the rear end portion I8 of the step I is placed upon a rung l l with the portion between the hinge member 2| and the lug 22 making the supporting contact and the upper end portion 29 of the hook engaged with a. rung II that is spaced a suitable distance thereabove.

Tilting out of the way involves merely lifting the front end of the step, the structure as a whole stretching out generally fiatwise with the upper end portion 29 of the hook slipping out of the way through the adjacent opening or space 30 between adjacent rungs.

The extension structure for use of the step on the under side of the ladder may be in the'form of achain structure 3|, one on each side, that is equipped at its ends with individual hook devices for efiecting connection respectively with the return bends 28 and witha rungv II. A plain hook 32 may be used at the upper end for engagement with the rung and a snaphook 34 at the lower end for engagement with the bends 28.

The structure described is easily applied to. a ladder of common form such as. is used by firemen and painters and the like.

The openings [4 permit of access. of the foot or feet of the operator to the adjacent rung of the ladder when the step is in, the tilted position.

These openings are shown as of rectan ular form. The borderwalls thereof may be rounded or oval or any modification thereof. The more numerous lightening openings I5 are usually too small to admit the foot.

The hook cooperates with the step proper to make the structure as a whole safe and reliable under conditions of use.

I claim as my invention:-

1. A safety-step for ladders comprising a platform in the form of a one-piece gridlike structure having means at the forward end for operatively engaging with a rung of a ladder, pintle openings provided respectively adjacent" the rear corners extending transversely and in alignment, a hanger in the form of a rod bent so as to provide for the middle portion a hook for making supporting engagement with another upwardly spaced rung and side arms inclined towards said corners, and. integral pintle ends projected from the lower ends of said arms through said openings, 'with the butt ends opposed one to the other, whereby extension of said pintle ends will permit said, butt ends to be brought into abutment and welded together, the means for engaging with thefirst mentioned rung serving to provide a hinge connection for permitting, tilting the .platform upwardly, and said platform being provided with a pair of foot-admitting openings for providing supporting engagement with feet with said first mentionedrung.

2. In a safety-step for ladders, a platform and support therefor arranged to permit of a horizontal position for the platform for use as a step and for tilting the platform upwardly out of the way and with a rung of a ladder serving the axis for such tilting, said platform being provided with foot-ope ings for admitting feet to said rung with the platform in such tilted position.

JOHN T. HENNESSY. 

